Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: JDHasty on September 19, 2025, 08:51:31 AM

Title: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: JDHasty on September 19, 2025, 08:51:31 AM: https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/i-took-a-gamble-on-a-stevens-44-1-2-17-a-m-barrel-and-fore-end.1332386/
Title: Re: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: Alchase on September 20, 2025, 02:23:24 PM: That was a fun read, going to be a beautiful rifle!
Title: Re: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: JDHasty on September 21, 2025, 03:20:56 PM: The barrel and fore was re listed a few times before I got an offer I couldn’t refuse. I thought I might know what I was buying, but was wrong in as much as the chambering is based on the 32-20 family of cases and not a rimmed version of the 222 family. Other than it makes obtaining brass considerably easier, it didn’t make much difference. I suppose had it been a rimmed 17 Javelina that stumbling on a size die would be more likely, but still not highly likely.

Having a size die for 17 A&M Bee burned isn’t that big of a deal, it’s a bit cheaper than having PTG grind a die reamer and cutting a die, but not much. Either way, I need a few fired cases for them to work off of.

I have been focused on another project the last few days, but maybe this week I can see if the barrel will headspace up on my action that has a 218 Bee extractor in it. If it does it’s just a matter of loading up a few 17 Ackley Bee cases and fire forming them to get the ball rolling.

If that works as planned then I’ll get a pistol grip DST tang and mainspring headed this way and change that action over from straight grip and figure out something regarding a lever. The DST triggers are not going to fit under the lever that is in it. Maybe it can be reshaped. If not I’ll order a ball and spur lever from CPA. The CPA lever is for their action, not an original Stevens 44 1/2, but it’s supposedly close enough that it just needs minor modifications.
Title: Re: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: Dan-o on September 21, 2025, 10:50:03 PM: You find some cool stuff, and turn it into really cool stuff!
Title: Re: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: JDHasty on September 22, 2025, 07:57:45 AM: It keeps me broke.

Fortunately with EDM a one off sizing die can be “burned” and it isn’t a matter of having someone grinding a die reamer and then cutting a sizing die. Isn’t any cheaper, but the lead time is substantially less. RCBS made some die sets, but locating one is about as likely as coming across rocking horse poop. I use Vickerman seating dies anyway, so all I need is a FL sizer.

A guy gave me another Martini Cadet action, and I have a Green Mountain octagon 17 caliber barrel sitting here and a AAA Claro walnut stock set. So I’m going to do a real skookum 17 Hornet or Ackley Bee in the near future. That will be fun.
Title: Re: I more or less bought a “mystery bag” that has turned into an adventure
Post by: JDHasty on September 22, 2025, 05:55:12 PM: Looking good